Apparatus for forming a suction-cup receiving cavity in a moulded denture



Dec. 15, 1959 M. BARBANo'r'rl APPARATUS FOR FORMING A SUCTION-CUP RECEIVING CAVITY IN A MOULDED DENTURE Filed July 15. 1955 lll Fl G. 7 Fl G. 8 Mar-w qvbN/rfn ATTORNEY S United States Patent O APPARATUS FOR FORMING A SUCTION-CUI RE- CEIVING CAVITY 1N A MOULDED DENTURE Mario Barbanotti, Trino Vercellese, Italy Application July 15, 1953, Serial No. 368,023 Claims priority, application Italy January 15, 1953 3 Claims. (Cl. 18-5.7)

The present invention relates to a device for providing a cavity in a molded denture for the purpose of receiving a suction-cup adhering device.

The cavity is located on the surface of the denture which engages the mucous membrane of the mouth. The cavity is adapted to receive and retain a suction-cup device formed entirely of resilient material in such a manner that the active edges of the suction-cup are eliectively liush with the surface of the denture. This causes the denture to be more comfortable than conventional dentures equipped with suction-cups.

Briefly, the device of invention comprises a cylindrical body having a tapered tail-piece which is adapted to be inserted in the mold or model from which the denture is to be made. The tail-piece extends from a cylindrical body, an annular flange being disposed between the tailpiece and the body. A cup-shaped socket member is detachably mounted on the body and forms a part of the completed denture when it is removed from the mold. This cup-shaped member serves as a socket for receiving and firmly holding a central projecting knob portion of the liexible suction-cup. A stack of flexible discs is clamped'between the flange and the cup-shaped socket. The number of discs included in the stack determines the depth of the outer portion of the cavity which receives and surrounds the cup portion of the suction-cup.

The invention will be more fully understood by reading the following specilication with reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the device of Fig. 1 assembled for use.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing a modied form of the invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view which shows two of the devices mounted on a mold or model from which the denture is to be made.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V y of Fig. 4.

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terior of which the ball shaped projection, or central knob 3 of a suction cup 4, can be inserted.

The central knob portion 3 permits the suction-cup 4 to be fixed in a cavity 5 (Fig. 6), the knob 3 being held securely in the socket member 2. The cavity 5 is of such dimensions that the suction-cup 4 will be completely enclosed within the cavity 5 when the suction-cup 4 is llattened for adherence to the mouth of a wearer of the denture 1. Thus, the presence of the suction-cup 0 4 is not felt by the wearer.

The cavity 5 is formed and the socket member 2 is fixed in the denture by means of the device which is the subject matter of the present invention.

This device comprises a cylindrical body 7 from which a tapered tail-piece 8 extends. An annular ange 7' is disposed between the body 7 and the tail-piece 8. The rigid cup-shaped socket member 2 is detachably secured to and surrounds the `body 7. A stack of superposed flexible discs 9 is clamped between the socket member 2 and the ilange 7.

A hole is drilled in the model 10 (Fig. 4) and the tail piece 8 is secured therein by means of a special cement. The stack of flexible discs 9 is caused to adhere to the surface of the model 10 as shown in Fig. 5. The denture 1 is then formed using the model in the usual manner.

When the denture 10 is completed, the socket member 2 will remain iixed in the center of the cavity 5 for engagement by the central knob portion 3 of the suctioncup 4 as shown in Fig. 6. The depth of the cavity 5 is determined by the number of discs 9 which are assembled in stacked relationship on the body 7.

In a modified form of the invention, as shown in Fig. 3, the body 7 is provided with a pin 6 which extends through the bottom of the socket member 2. The pin 6 serves to secure the socket member 2 detachably to the body 7 as by a force lit or a light soldering of the pin 6 to the socket member 2.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described for forming a cavity in a denture for receiving a suction cup adhering device comprising a cylindrical body with a tapered tail piece, an annular flange between the body and tail piece, a rigid cup-shaped socket member detachably mounted on and surrounding the body, and at least one disc clamped between the cup-shaped member and flange.

2. A device of the characterdescribed for providing a cavity in a molded denture for receiving a suction cup adhering device, said first-named device comprising a cylindrical body, a tapered tail piece extending from said body, an annular flange disposed between said body and said tail piece, a rigid cup-shaped socket member detachably secured to and surrounding said body, and a stack of superposed flexible discs clamped between said cupshaped member and said llange.

3. A device according to claim 2, further comprising a pin extending axially between said body and said cupshaped member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,343,950 Whitaker June 22, 1920 1,539,143 Petry May 26, 1925 2,037,344 Schwartz Apr. 14, 1936 2,472,492 Sair June 7, 1949 2,551,812 Nelson May 8. 1951 

